Plug connector



Sept. 14, 1965 MQFADDEN ETAL 3,206,718

PLUG CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Bruc .McFodden Roy arreH Bernard Edward Shlesin gendn 5. 5 b B Sept. 14, 6 B. R.MGFADDEN ETAL PLUG CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 n J e gn s n P e h M 3 d imam CHW sMc m R J O R m T e C a wm r W B R B v. W B i1 A on United States Patent 3,206,718 PLUG CONNECTOR Bruce R. McFaddenand Roy C. Jarrett, Harrisburg, Pa., and Bernard Edward Shlesinger,'Jr., Annandale, Va., assignors to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed Oct. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 314,803 8 Claims. (Cl. 339-217) Thisinvention relates to electrical connector plugs and more particularly tospring latch hand plugs that hold against pressure on the front portionbut are readily withdrawn by a pull on the rear portion.

In present day electrical equipment, it is common practice to employconnect-or panels or boards wherein connector plugs are insertedselectively in receptacles to conmeet and disconnect various controlcircuits. It is desirable that the .plug be easily removable from theconnector panel by a pull on the rear portion thereof, but not removableby a push on the front or tip portion of the contact member.

Heretofore snap latch plugs have been provided with a detent system thatincludes a spring detent member and detent locking means that arecomplex and generally include multiple parts which are expensive tomanufacture and to incorporate in assembly in the plug body. It thenumber of parts has been reduced there still has been the problem ofproviding a detent system which is capable of allowing the plug to bereadily inserted and removed from a panel board, to maintain the plugsecurely in position and to hold the plug in position upon a force beingapplied to the front or tip portion thereof.

One of the problems in connection with the detent system consisting ofadded spring parts is that the spring parts are made of materialdifferent from that of the shell portion of the plug, thereby requiringthat the spring par-ts be manufactured separately from the shellportion. Another problem is the insertion of the spring arts into theshell portion during manufacture of the plug. A further problem is theprobability that the spring parts may extend too far above the shellportion until they form a permanent engagement which is undesirable.

-A variety of forms of detent systems defining detent locking means forspring detent members have been heretofore proposed, some involvingseparate spring elements assembled in a plug shell and others includingspring elements of a form difiicul-t to manufacture and maintain to theuniform shape and close tolerances desired for uniform detentioncharacteristics as well as incidental elements thereof or connectedthereto.

It is therefore .an object of the present invention to provide a snaplatch plug which is simpler and more economical in construction thanprevious plugs of this type.

It is another object of the present invention to avoid the use or addedspring parts which are relatively costly in assembly and material andgenerally require more force to be removed from a plug board.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a snap latchplug with a detent system which is rugged and will retain substantiallyits original characteristics over a long life.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an effectivearrangement to prevent the removal of the plug from .a control panelupon force being applied to the front or tip portion thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of adetent system wherein the spring detent member thereof is integral withthe plug shell and of a character susceptible to precise control ofshape.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a Patented Sept. 14, 1965reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunctionwith the drawings in which there is shown and described illustrativeembodiments of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that thisembodiment is not to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention, but isgiven for purposes of illustration in the invention and principlesthereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they maymodify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditionsof a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a snap latch plugincorporating features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the plug ofFIGURE 1 illustrating the action of the detent system during insertionof the plug in a plugboard aperture;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are views similar to that of FIG- URE 2 in a furtherstage of insertion and final position respectively of the plug in theplugboard aperture;

[FIGURES 5a and 5b are sectional views taken along the lines VV ofFIGURE 1, but showing modifications thereof;

FIGURES 6a and 6b are perspective views and FIG- URE 6c is a front viewof 'FIGU'RE 6b of different embodiments of the detent locking means;

FIGURES 7 and 7a are respectively a perspective view of a plugboardassembly in which the present invention can be used and a side view ofthe contact assembly when engaged; and

FIGURES 8 and 9 are views similar to those of FIG- URES 5a and 5b butwith the embodiments of FIG- URES 6a and 6b disposed within the plug.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG- URES 14, there isshown a plurality of apertures 2 disposed in a plugboard 4 adapted toreceive therein snap latch plug contactors 1. Plug 1 comprises a hollowcylindrical sleeve or shell portion 5 of a resilient conductive materialsuch as nickel-plated full hard brass preferably rolled up from flatsheet stock into tubular form. Extending forwardly of portion 5 is ahollow tubular portion 6 which is interconnected thereto by afrusto-conical portion 7.

At the rear portion there is provided a circumferential ridge 8 whichacts as a stop means to limit movement of the plug into plugboard 4 whenthe plug is inserted there into. Extending rearwardly of ridge 8 is asecuring means 9 by which conductor means 10 is mechanically andelectrically connected to the plug. Securing means 9 preferablycomprises a ferrule member which is crimped around the wire means ofconductor means 10 by coldforging techniques conventional in the artsuch as disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 2,600,012. Of course, any othermeans for securing the conductor means to the plug can be utilized.

An insulating sheath or sleeve 11 of a suitable plastic material isdisposed around the rear portion of the plug and adjacent insulation ofconductor means 10 as by molding or in any other suitable manner. Sheath11 insulates the ferrule member or securing means 9, supports theconductor means contiguous the securing means and provides a handle formanipulating the plug.

To form a spring detent member of the detent system, a pair of parallelslots 12 and 13 are provided in shell portion 5 and frusto-conicalportion 7, leaving therebetween the spring detent member 14 anchored inthe shell portion and free from the frusto-conical portion 7. As can beseen spring detent member 14 is in the form of a goose neck, i.e., arear section 15 extending inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of theplug and an arcuate section 16 having a portion curved away from thelongitua) dinal axis and integral with rear section 15 and anotherportion curved toward the longitudinal axis. Thus, the spring detentmember so formed has excellent resilient properties which provide properretention capability after extensive repeated use. It should be pointedout that while the spring detent member is shown as extending from therear section toward the frusto-conical section, it can be formed so asto extend in the reverse direction, i.e. from the frusto-conical sectionto the rear section.

While there has been illustrated a single detent spring memberintegrally formed in shell portion and frustoconical portion 7, anotherspring detent member 14' can be integrally formed in a similar manner asspring detent member 14, but diametrically therefrom as shown in FIG-URE 5a. If desired, there can be integrally formed in the plug springdetent members 14, 14' and 14" disposed at 120 with respect to eachother as illustrated in FIG- URE 5b. Of course, more than three springdetent members can be integrally formed in the plug.

The detent system further comprises a detent locking means 17 having acylindrical nose section 18 disposed in tubular portion 6 and is freelymovable relative thereto. Generally nose section 18 has a configurationcorresponding to that of the interior surface of tubular portion 6 sothat nose section 18 can effectively be guided therein. Detent lockingmeans 17 further comprises an engaging section 19 integral with nosemember 17 and having an upwardly tapering rounded portion 20 and adownwardly tapering rounded portion 21 which is similar in configurationto arcuate section 16 of spring detent member 14. The section betweenportions 20 and 21 has a diameter slightly smaller than the innerdiameter of shell portion 5 so as to be guided thereby as well asengaging the inner surface of frusto-conical portion '7 to thereby limitthe forward movement of the engaging section. The free end 16 of arcuatesection 16 is rounded to decrease the frictional engagement thereof onportion 20.

As can be seen, engaging section 19 is disposed within arcuate section16 such that downwardly tapering portion 21 engages the portion curvedaway from the longitudinal axis upon inward movement of the detentlocking means 17 to thereby maintain the same Within the plug. Thus,nose section 18 extends beyond tubular portion 6 to allow movementrelative thereto upon a force being applied thereupon. The end of nosesection 18 which extends beyond tubular portion 6 is rounded.

FIGURES 6a 6b, and 60 show different embodiments of the detent lockingmeans. In FIGURE 61; there is shown a flat detent locking means 17'which comprises a rectangularly shaped nose section 18' having an outerend which is rounded. Integral with nose section 18' is an engagingsection 19 having an upwardly tapering portion 20' and a downwardlytapering portion 21' similar in configuration to engaging section 19.

In FIGURES 6b, 6c there is shown a detent locking means 17" whichcomprises a nose section 18 having a cross-sectional configuration thatis triangular and an integral engaging section 19" comprising engagingportions 19a, 19b and 19c disposed at 120 with respect to each other andsimilar in configuration as engaging section 19. The outer end of nosesection 18 is preferably rounded.

FIGURE 8 shows flat detent locking means 17' disposed within the plugillustrated in FIGURE 5a with up wardly tapering portions 20 anddownwardly tapering portions 21' being in alignment with spring detentmembers 14, 14'. FIGURE 9 shows detent locking means 17" disposed withinthe plug illustrated in FIGURE 5b with engaging portions 19a, 19b and190 being in respective alignment with spring detent members 14, 14' and14". The spring detent members in the embodiments of FIGURES 8 and 9maintain the engaging sections of the detent locking means therewithin.

Of course, it is desirable to provide the inner surface 4 of tubularportion 6 with the same configuration as nose sections 18, 18' and 18"in order to effectively guide the detent locking means therein. Theedges of nose sections 18' and 18" are preferably rounded to decreasethe frictional engagement thereof with the inner surface of tubularportion 6.

While there has been shown detent locking means having differentconfigurations, it is to be understood that other configurations can beutilized.

FIGURE 7 shows a plugboard assembly in which the present invention canbe used. In FIGURES 7 there is shown a fixed plugboard panel of anysuitable electrical insulating material and generally designated at 4'is provided with rows and columns of apertures 2 which are adapted toreceive therein a set of spring contact members 22. As best shown inFIGURE 7a, contact members 22 are the terminals for the leads 49 whichelectrically couple the fixed panel to the sensing elements and theoperative instrumentalities of the computing machine or the like, notshown. Contact members 22 may take any suitable form, but it ispreferred that these contacts have the characteristics as disclosed inthe copending application to -William S. Watts, Serial No. 409,603,filed February 11, 1954, now Patent No. 2,882,508. Cooperating withcontact members 22 to effect the desired circuit interconnectlons withinthe accounting machine is a set of plug contact members 1 that areadapted to be received by a plurality of apertures 2, corresponding toapertures 2' in control plugboard panel 4, which also is of suitableinsulating material.

To permit the control panel to be detached from the plugboard assembly,panel 4 is slidably mounted in channels 26 of a rotatable carrier frame27 pivotally mounted at the base of a fixed frame 29 in which plugboard4 is mounted and by which the plugboard assembly is supported on thecomputing machine. Pivotal movement of carrier frame 27 carries controlpanel 4 to a position parallel to fixed panel 4', subsequent rectilinearmotion thereof along the fixed plugboard being effective to causeengagement of the sets of contacts.

The above plugboard assembly is disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,927,295 toG. C. Sitz, and further description of this plugboard assembly is deemednon-essential to the understanding of the present invention, therefore,reference is made thereto for any desirable details thereof. Of course,the present invention can be used in any other suitable plugboard.

Operation When the plug is inserted into an aperture 2 of a plugboard 4,the arcuate section 16 of spring detent member 14 is cammed inwardlytoward the longitudinal axis of the plug by the engagement of the outerfront inclined surface thereof with the outer opening of the aperture(see FIGURE 2). If the detent locking means 17 is positioned forwardlywithin the plug, the inner front inclined Surface of the arcuate section16 will engage upwardly tapering portion 20 to thereby move the detentlocking means 17 rearwardly.

After the plug has entered the outer opening of the aperture, thearcuate section 16 is maintained inwardly thereby during inward movementof the plug within the aperture as shown in FIGURE 3.

Upon complete insertion of the plug within the aperture with ridge 8 inengagement with the outer surface of the plugboard, spring detent member14 moves beyond the inner opening of the aperture as shown in FIGURE 4.In this position spring detent member 14 provides a retentive forcesufiicient to maintain the plug within its aperture in spite ofvibration effects and any other similar effects that would tend tonormally cause the plug to work free of the plugboard If a force isapplied to nose portion 18, as when movable panel 4 is carried to aposition parallel to stationary panel 4 in conjunction with the panelassembly of FIGURE 7, detent locking means 17 is moved relative to theplug proper such that engaging section 19 engages the portion of arcuatesection 16 curved away from the longitudinal axis and integral with rearsection 15 thereby exerting an outward force on spring detent member 14through camming action wherein spring detent member 14 is pressedfurther beyond the inner opening of the aperture than the normalposition thereof, thereby establishing a locking arrangement. Thus, theplug is locked inposition so that it will not be pushed out of itsaperture, and as a result a good connection is established between theplug and contact member 22.

Of course, forces can be applied to the nose portion other than thatmentioned above which will provide the same locking arrangement and theplug can be used in plugboards other than the one used to explain theoperation of the plug.

To remove the plug from the plugboard, a pull is exerted on sleeve 11which causes the inner opening of the aperture to move the spring detentmember inwardly through camming action until the detent spring member iswithin the aperture as shown in FIGURE 3, and the detent locking means17 is moved outwardly relative to the plug proper until it abuts theinner surface of frusto-conical portion 7. Upon complete removal of theplug, the spring detent member will assume its normal position. Tofacilitate insertion of the plug into an aperture, the aperture can beslightly tapering from a smaller inner diameter to a slightly largerouter diameter.

It can be discerned that there has been disclosed an electricalconnector plug having a novel detent system which contains an effectivelocking arrangement with a minimum of parts and wherein the springdetent member is an integral part of the shell body portion of the plug.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and otherdesirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasizedthat the particular em- 'bodiments of the invention, which are shown anddescribed herein, are intended as merely illustrative and not asrestrictive of the invention.

We claim:

1. A plug connector for insertion in an aperture in a plugboardcomprising a hollow cylindrical sheet metal sleeve, a pair oflongitudinally extending slots circumferentially spaced in said sleeve,said slots releasing therebetween a spring detent member integrallyanchored at one end to said sleeve and having a curved portion extendingabove the surface of said sleeve, and detent locking means having a noseportion extending beyond one end of said sleeve and an engaging portionfor engaging said curved portion of said spring detent member, saidengaging portion of said detent locking means being disposed within thecurved portion of said spring detent member, said detent locking meansbeing movable relative to said sleeve upon a pressure being applied tosaid nose portion to move said spring detent member beyond its normalposition to thereby lock the plug connector in the plugboard.

2. A plug connector according to claim 1, wherein said nose portion ofsaid detent locking means is round and said engaging portion is roundhaving an upwardly curved section extending from said nose portion andan inwardly curved section extending from said upwardly curved section.

3. A plug connector for insertion in an aperture in a plugboardcomprising a hollow sheet metal sleeve, longitudinally extending slotscircumferentially spaced in said sleeve, pairs of said slots releasingtherebetween spring detent members, each of said spring detent membersbeing integrally anchored at one end to said sleeve and having a curvedportion extending outwardly from the surface of said sleeve, and detentlocking means having a nose portion extending beyond one end of saidsleeve and an engaging portion for engaging the curved portions of saidspring detent members, said engaging portion of said detent lockingmeans being disposed within the curved portions of said spring detentmembers to maintain same therewithin, said detent locking means beingmovable relative to said sleeve upon a pressure being applied to saidnose portion to move said engaging section into engagement with saidspring detent members to thereby lock the plug connector in theplugboard.

4. A plug connector according to claim 3, wherein said detent lockingmeans is flat.

5. A plug connector according to claim 3, wherein said nose portion ofsaid detent locking means is substantially triangular in cross-sectionand said engaging portion has three sections disposed about. withrespect to each other.

6. A plug contactor of the type utilized to complete selected electricalcircuits by engagement with contact means comprising a contactor sleevehaving an outside surface of a configuration to slidably fit within anaperture of a panel means and a nose section extending beyond said panelmeans for engagement with said contact means, said nose section havingan opening extending therethrough; a wire-receiving section on saidcontactor sleeve located remotely from said nose section; a springdetent means released from a U- shaped slot in said contactor sleeve andhaving one end anchored to said contactor sleeve, an elongated sectionextending from the anchored end and a free end of arcuate configurationwhich extends outwardly from the surface of said contactor sleeve in anormal position of rest; and detent locking means having a first sectiondisposed in said opening of said nose section and extending slightlyoutwardly therefrom and a second section disposed within the arcuateconfiguration of said free end of said spring detent means; said detentlocking means adapted to move relatively to said contactor sleeve upon aforce being applied to said first section thereof which causes saidsecond section to engage said arcuate configuration to prevent same frommoving inwardly from said normal position of rest.

7. In a plug contactor adapted to be locked against being pushed from anaperture of a plugboard, a conductive sleeve member including a firstportion having a diameter to fit within said aperture and a secondportion which extends beyond said plugboard for engagement with acontact member, said second portion having an opening therein; springdetent means on said sleeve member, said spring detent means being astamped-out part of said sleeve member and defining an elongated memberextending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sleevemember, said elongated member having one end anchored to said sleevemember while the other end and sides are free therefrom, said elongatedmember at the free end thereof defining an arcuateshaped portion havinga section that extends outwardly from the surface of said sleeve member,said spring detent means moving toward the longitudinal axis uponinsertion and withdrawal of the plug contactor into and from saidaperture and moving away from the longitudinal axis to a position ofrest upon complete insertion and withdrawal of the plug connector intoand from said aperture, said section of said arcuate-shaped portionextending beyond said aperture when said plug contactor is completelyinserted therein; and detent locking means having a first sectiondisposed in said opening of said section portion of said sleeve memberand extending therebeyond and a second section disposed within saidarcuate-shaped portion, said detent locking means being movable relativeto said sleeve member and adapted to lock said plug contactor when insaid aperture upon a force being applied to the first section of saiddetent locking means which causes said second section thereof to engagesaid arcuate-shaped portion thereby preventing said section of saidarcuate-shaped portion from moving inwardly from said position of restadjacent said aperture.

8. In a plug contactor, a sleeve having a support portion and a noseportion; a nose member disposed in said nose portion for slidingmovement axially therealong, said nose member including an engagingsection and a nose section protruding from said nose portion; a pair ofspaced slots in said sleeve, said slots releasing therebetween a springdetent member integrally anchored at one end to said sleeve and having acurved portion extending outwardly from the surface of said sleeve; saidengaging section of said nose member being disposed within said curvedportion and held captive within said sleeve by the rear surface thereof;said engaging section adapted to engage the rear surface of said curvedportion upon a force being applied to said nose section to prevent saidcurved portion from moving inwardly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/53 Cunningham339-217 10/54 Pollock 339217 1/57 Sesny et al 339217 9/59 Sitz 339-217 X4/61 Scheller 339--217 X 5/61 Wilgus.

11/61 Mavity 339217 4/63 Watts 339217 OTHER REFERENCES Twin DetentPatchcords by AMP, AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa., copyright, 1962.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,206,718 September 14, 1965 Bruce R, McFadden et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 1, line 56, for "or" read of column 6, line 35, for "relatively"read relative line 60, for "connector" read contactor Signed and sealedthis 5th day of April 1966..

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A PLUG CONNECTOR FOR INSERTION IN AN APERTURE IN A PLUGBOARDCOMPRISING A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL SHEET METAL SLEEVE, A PAIR OFLONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOTS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED IN SAID SLEEVE,SAID SLOTS RELEASING THEREBETWEEN A SPRING DETENT MEMBER INTEGRALLYANCHORED AT ONE END TO SAID SLEEVE AND HAVING A CURVED PORTION EXTENDINGABOVE THE SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVE, AND DETENT LOCKING MEANS HAVING A NOSEPORTION EXTENDING BEYOND ONE END OF SAID SLEEVE AND AN ENGAGING PORTIONFOR ENGAGING SAID CURVED PORTION OF SAID SPRING DETENT MEMBER, SAIDENGAGING PORTION OF SAID DETENT LOCKING MEANS BEING DISPOSED WITHIN THECURVED PORTION OF SAID SPRING DETENT MEMBER, SAID DETENT LOCKING MEANSBEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID SLEEVE UPON A PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TOSAID NOSE PORTION TO MOVE SAID SPRING DETENT MEMBER BEYOND ITS NORMALPOSITION TO THEREBY LOCK THE PLUG CONNECTOR IN THE PLUGBOARD.